Directed by Pam Fryman
Written by Jennifer Hendricks, Carter Bays & Craig Thomas
Two Paragraph Synopsis: As Lily goes into labor while Marshall and Barney are still in Atlantic City, she does her best to hold on for her baby daddy, to no avail. Ted and Robin come by to help occupy her for as long as they can, trading stories to numb her even slightly, but she still ends up at the hospital a while before Marshall does. He and Barney do everything in their insanely drunken fervor to make it to Manhattan, which results in a bus trip... to Buffalo. But all prevails, as they make it to Lily's side in time for the birth of Marvin Waitforit Eriksen.
With their new son alive and well, Lily and Marshall are doing their best to adapt and to cut back on shenanigans, which include only helping the gang out with issues that relate to an 8 or higher. Two big 10 events happen here, though, one of which involves Ted finally calling Victoria back up, only to discover that she was about to go through with her wedding. But she's still willing to get married to him, which Ted ponders on being right to do, before they drive off into the sunset together. Meanwhile, Barnet and Quinn's trip to Hawaii is halted when a magic trick of Barney's sets off the airport sensors, and he tries his best to not spoil it. He eventually does, though- he plants a wedding ring inside of this little box he's carrying. While all seems well for Barney and Quinn, the flash forward at the end of episode paints a different picture, as Robin is shown to be Barney's bride-to-be.
I haven't been talking about season seven that much, for a couple of reasons. One, I'm losing interest in writing big pieces, even for a show that I enjoy as much as HIMYM. The other being that I'm running out of things to say about the show as it transitions into its awkward last few years.
If anything, I'd say that "The Magician's Code is a good reflection of where the series was at this point, considering how compromised it felt throughout. Some of the show's charms and eventual magic are still present, with a few too many unfunny or tiresome elements to drag it down.
The first half is easily the stronger, allowing for the funniest moments ala some clever cutaways. Not every one of them works, but the variety infused into each one made them feel fresh, just as the gang felt at their most organic here. There wasn't a dragged out split-up storyline or partner with mixed chemistry among the cast to drag things out here, just the core 5 allowed to have fun with each other, sometimes correlating certain bits together in a smart way.
It's especially nice as the parts of the episode that take place in real time aren't all that great. Marshall and Barney are good at playing funny drunks, but it gets old fast, just as the suspense doesn't pay off. While I do want Marshall to be there for his son's birth, I'm not all that invested in the chase. Really, I'd rather see more funny flashbacks, or get a little more screentime for Vicki Lewis.
But it all comes together for the birth of little Marvin, a great moment in the show's run. The emotional weight of the group's core couple is brought to life, as they see everything they could want in life with their firstborn son. Fryman composes the moment well, as she continues to do so when Ted, Robin and Barney arrive and see the gang's first child as he's born. It's moments like these that remind me of why I love the series even now, as I still care about these characters and their accomplishments. They feel real, and I feel like a sixth member of the gang when this is going on.
The second part becomes less fun, as Bays and Thomas don't bring their A game to the table. Barney and Quinn's story shows the most promise, although the fact that she left her stripping job almost works as a cop-out to avoid them working past the issue. It's really a non-issue, and Barney should get over her choice in profession. Some funny moments happen during their interrogation, but it falls moot when the proposal occurs. It's sweetly done, another touch of Fryman magic, but let me just say that you haven't seen anything yet.
Since it's now known that Robin will be marrying Barney, it's safe to admit that I wasn't a big fan of his relationship with Quinn. They're not done yet, but so far their time together has only allowed for quick resolutions rather than serious discourse in regards to their problems. This isn't the best way for a relationship to grow and flesh out, and unless some serious changes occurs, it can't work out. There's also the fact that I'm not a huge fan of Becki Newton's acting as Quinn, who is able to give solid readings, but comes off as a little too forced throughout.
Ted and Victoria seems promising, at least for now. I'll get to them when I start up on season 8. Same with Lily and Marshall, who need some time to get the hang of baby life. It's just not that exciting, as this episode rarely felt that way at all. Even the reveal of Robin being Barney's bride didn't have a big punch, since at this point, it's more stalling than anything.
Season 7 just feels compromised throughout. For every great moment, there's an equally unimpressive one to balance it out. Some great episodes, such as "Tick Tick Tick", allow for the show still be worth watching at this point, but duds like "The Burning Beekeeper" are too prevalent, and hurt it in the long run. I ultimately give season 7 a B-, which makes it about on par with the first and the fifth. Not too bad, but the series has seen better days. Will 8 be an improvement? We'll see...
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